repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
2008 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 989 owner complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
989 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
460Steering13 crash/fire/injury
233Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
106Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
86Power train
71Latches/locks/linkages
68Electronic stability control (ESC)
64Air bags
62Service brakes
62Engine
23021 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 460 | 13 |
| Electrical system | 233 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 106 | 1 |
| Power train | 86 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 71 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 68 | 5 |
| Air bags | 64 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 62 | 4 |
| Engine | 62 | 4 |
| 21 other systems | 230 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
82kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 377 steering complaints. 59% were reported before 100,000 miles.
42under 30k miles223under 100k miles154100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
24 owners mentioned a cost$708median
Middle half: $570 – $812
Electrical system
10 owners mentioned a cost$650median
Middle half: $365 – $750
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2008 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
As I'm driving I hear a chime and the radio says power steering and I just loose power steering it's scary and I really wish gm would have made this a permanent recall
I own a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ (VIN [XXX] ) with an electric power steering (EPS) issue that matches GM’s known EPS defect and recall 14V‑153 / bulletin 15356 for 2007–2012 Malibus. The steering is very stiff and hard at low speeds, the car feels like it is dragging, and the steering wheel…
The EPS malfunctions and turns off during normal driving operations at random intervals. Happens more when temperature outside is below 50 degrees. This has made it difficult to steer and has almost caused me to get in an accident on multiple occasions
Own a 2008 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.